By LAITH AGHA
Monterey County Herald (California)
Chris Schmidt says he was just doing his job, but Monterey County’s firefighters, emergency medical technicians and police officers believe he is a hero.
That’s why he was the guest of honor at Wednesday’s Emergency Medical Services Week Recognition Barbecue at Carmel Valley’s Mid-Valley fire station.
On Dec. 8, Schmidt, an emergency medical technician, was helping load an injured California Highway Patrol officer into an ambulance on a Highway 1 overpass near Fort Ord. Suddenly he realized that a Mercedes SUV was headed for the ambulance — and not slowing down.
Schmidt pushed his co-worker into the ambulance, closed the back doors and jumped out of the way.
As his feet left the ground, Schmidt had no idea where he was headed, let alone that he was about to fall 40 feet. Fortunately, a sandy bank cushioned his fall, but he still sustained a shattered pelvis and ruptured bladder.
Meanwhile, the occupants of the ambulance avoided serious injury from the impact of the oncoming vehicle, which was being driven by an allegedly drunken driver.
Schmidt was airlifted to San Jose and admitted to the intensive care unit at Regional Medical Center in San Jose.
“It was a split-second, unselfish, brave act he did to save his co-worker, the patient, and the patient’s supervisor,” said Mid-Valley Fire Chief Sidney Reade.
“I was just doing the job,” said Schmidt. “Pretty much it was just instinct taking over. I saw the car coming, made sure to close the door and jumped out of the way.”
Schmidt’s pelvis was fractured in five places, requiring a metal plate to hold it together. Bedridden for three months, the man who risked his life for others became frustrated at his limited ability to help his pregnant wife, Jennifer, or help care for their infant son.
Schmidt has improved dramatically. Initially told that he would never be able to return to duty, he is expected back at work within two months, just seven months after being injured.
“It’s typical of Chris,” said Eric Ulwelling a paramedic captain for the Carmel Valley Fire Department who started out with Schmidt as an emergency medical technician 10 years ago. “He’s got an iron will.”
Wednesday’s barbecue was Schmidt’s first time back in a firehouse since the incident, and he was touched by the standing ovation that greeted him from some 50 firefighters, police officers and fellow emergency medical technicians.
For Schmidt, it was also a relief just to get out of the house.
“I’ve been isolated at home, so it’s wonderful to see everyone’s faces again,” said Schmidt.
Among the attendees were members of the Salinas Rural, Pacific Grove and North Monterey County fire departments, Sand City Police Department, Emergency Medical Services agency, and Schmidt’s employer, Westmed. He was employed by American Medical Response at the time of the incident. Westmed has since assumed the county contract for emergency medical services.
Reade heralded Schmidt’s heroic act, and also paid homage to Mario Cunha, a Soledad firefighter who was killed by a hit-and-run driver while attempting to extinguish a fire along Highway 101 more than two years ago.
Reade said a new highway safety program will increase safety for firefighters, paramedics and police officers tending to roadside emergencies.
Funded by Officer Traffic Safety grants, fire and medical teams are now equipped with reflective vests, orange cones and bright orange stand-up signs that read “Emergency Work Ahead,” modeled after the ‘Road Work Ahead’ signs used by construction crews.
“Highway traffic safety is something that Monterey County has taken seriously the past couple of years,” said Soledad Fire Chief Jesse Casillas, who not only pushed for the safety plan, but is looking to take it one step further.
Casillas is working with local and state legislators on a “move over-slow down” law that will require passing motorists to change lanes and slow down when passing an emergency incident.